Members of a business team must be on the same page when it comes to their projects and for this coordination they need to have the best project management software.
Poor communication not only kills productivity but also costs businesses millions of dollars in revenue.
It’s important to use a project management system for the sake of consistency, productivity, and company income.
In fact, according to Monday.com, 8/10 project managers believe that project portfolio management is becoming essential. factor in influencing a business’s success.
So the best project management software is a great resource for staying organized, delegating tasks, and communicating effectively about where things are with different assignments and objectives.
We’ve compiled a list of the best project management software after reviewing several of the top options.
Keep reading to learn about the best project management software currently available.
10 Best Project Management Software
Here are our 10 best Project Management Software:
- Best Overall – Asana
- Best For Cross-Platform Features – Trello
- Best Project Collaboration Features – Basecamp
- Best Simple – Monday.com
- Best For Small Teams – Zoho Projects
- Best Web-Based – Teamwork
- Best For Automated Scheduling – LiquidPlanner
- Best Powerful – Wrike
- Best Versatile – Podio
- Best For Automations – Smartsheet
1. Asana — Best Overall
Asana is a popular software solution that allows small teams to get started with project management for free, with the option to upgrade if the team grows and more advanced features are required.
You can work with up to 15 team members on the free tier.
Asana provides you with unlimited activity logs, messages, projects, and tasks with no financial obligations.
You also get unlimited file storage for anything up to 100 megabytes.
Asana’s free plan is an excellent resource for small teams on a tight budget or anybody looking for a reliable way to get started with project management without incurring any payment obligations.
There are just two paid plans, plus an Enterprise plan if you choose to upgrade.
Many people and businesses continue to benefit from Asana, which is why we recommend starting with the free version and then moving up to the premium tiers.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cloud-based
- It comes with a free version that is simple to use and has a lot of features.
- Unlimited storage space
- There are numerous integrations available.
Cons
- Complaints about customer service
2. Trello — Best For Cross-Platform Features
Trello has become one of the most popular projects management software in recent years.
It allows you to manage all of your professional and personal tasks from a laptop, tablet, or phone. Fender, Google, and Kickstarter are among the companies that use Trello.
You can use boards to organize your work, assign tasks to coworkers, create customized workflows, add to-do lists to task cards, share files, and leave comments on things.
The idea is that you can manage all parts of a project inside the app, whether it’s a team project or an individual one.
There are desktop versions for Windows and Mac and mobile apps for Android and iOS devices; there’s even a version tailored particularly for the iPad Pro.
The latter has a bigger canvas and some useful email shortcuts to help you get things done faster.
It’s free to download and try out, and it can be used on the free tier, though file attachments are limited in size.
When you upgrade to Business Class, you’ll get more features, including one-day email support, integration with other services like Google and Slack, and larger attachment limitations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- It’s free and simple to use.
- Unlimited storage available
- There are many integrations available.
- Freeboard customization options
Cons
- Compared to other project management software, this one has a very basic setup.
- There hasn’t been much progress in terms of user experience in recent years.
Reddit users share their views:
What is Everyone’s Opinion About Trello?
by u/Brazerss in trello
3. Basecamp — Best Project Collaboration Features
Basecamp is one of the oldest project management tools, has been operating for over 10 years, and earned a reputation as a reliable tool for companies working on large projects.
The current version of the app has many useful features, such as the option to send direct messages for quick talks, set up a schedule so that you only get alerts during work hours, and express your appreciation for coworkers by clicking an applause button.
Basecamp prevents a fragmented workflow by keeping “discussions, tasks, files, schedules, and chat in one place,” according to the company.
There are also some useful features for dealing with clients.
For example, you can easily store and manage client feedback and approvals and get project status reports.
You can also build group chats if you wish to collaborate with others.
To enable you to try the software, a free version allows you to collaborate on up to three projects with up to 20 individuals.
There is just one premium plan after that, which covers all features and unlimited users, making it a terrific value for teams but not so much for individual users.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Unlimited users and projects
- A fixed monthly fee
- 500 GB storage space
Cons
- When compared to competitors, the free tier is significantly limited.
- Monthly fees might be too expensive for a small team.
4. Monday.com — Best Simple
Monday.com is an excellent tool for organizing projects, assigning tasks to team members, and staying on track to meet deadlines.
Users can manage everything from finances to milestones.
The best part is that many of Monday.com’s features, such as the ability to create unlimited boards and documents, are completely free.
While individuals can get a lot done with Monday.com’s free tier, certain teams may need more.
Fortunately, its premium project management software is offered in a variety of subscription tiers that are both reasonable and flexible.
It’s clear from these tiers that it’s a highly scalable resource for both small teams and large businesses.
Overall, Monday.com is an excellent resource for any budget.
However, some users have reported that the interface and automation might be difficult to master.
Some features, such as improved customer service, maybe unavailable without upgrades, which may be a source of contention.
Even so, there are much more reasons to give it a go than there are to ignore this amazing project management software.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent free tier available
- Impressive interface
- Allows for the integration of various platforms.
- Visualization tools for projects that are useful
Cons
- There aren’t any advanced task tracking tools.
- If you have a large workforce, it can be rather costly.
5. Zoho Projects — Best For Small Teams
Another project management tool, Zoho Projects, allows users to plan, organize, and collaborate on projects while using Gantt charts to see progress and timelines in detail.
Document management, timekeeping, and error monitoring and correction are also available.
Slack, Google, Dropbox, and several other Zoho suites are among the integrations available.
Pricing is based on the number of users, projects, and depth of features necessary, with higher plans providing unlimited projects and higher limits, depending on the plan chosen. To try out the software’s features, a free plan is available.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Monthly and yearly pricing plans that are very reasonable
- Options for document storage
- For Kanban teams, this is an excellent tool.
- It has a user-friendly interface that makes it simple to manage and monitor goals.
Cons
- The trial period is extremely short.
- Outside of Zoho products, there aren’t many third-party integrations.
6. Teamwork — Best Web-Based
Teamwork, as the name implies, is a collaboration-focused management software option that provides many smaller teams with the tools they need to plan and manage goals for free.
As your success relies on working together with each other and with customers and stakeholders, this company focuses on making teamwork and workflow management strong.
They provide a slew of features tailored to operating a client or service-based company.
Teamwork, for example, is the only PM software that has built-in invoicing.
Although Teamwork offers integrations, it does not have as many options as other popular project management software.
Nonetheless, it provides excellent freeware, and two of its paid subscription plans include a lengthy trial period.
Give Teamwork a shot; you may find it a simple and engaging addition for your team.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free account available
- The design is simple and intuitive.
- Invoices and billing are included.
- Excellent customization options
Cons
- It doesn’t have as many third-party integrations as other platforms.
- To get the most reliable security features, you’ll need to upgrade.
7. LiquidPlanner — Best For Automated Scheduling
LiquidPlanner can help you arrange thousands of tasks and offers a simplified project management structure that lets you know when objectives will be completed.
Not only that, but LiquidPlanner is flexible, allowing you to change priorities as required.
LiquidPlanner features a strong feature set for business-grade project management, with Fortune 500 companies such as Bayer, Cisco, and Daimler among its corporate clients.
The Smart Schedule feature can help prioritize work, assign people resources, and estimate the hours required for completion, allowing the project to be monitored based on the hours committed to it by the assigned workforce.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Intelligent, automated scheduling
- Rich resource management and insight tools
- Shows the best and worst-case scenarios for tasks and projects
- Professional and Ultimate plans provide good time tracking.
Cons
- There are no mobile or desktop versions available.
- The pricing structure is unclear.
8. Wrike — Best Powerful
Wrike is another great project management tool that gets a lot of positive reviews because of its remote and collaborative features.
Users get 2 GB of storage space for free, as well as a range of free service options, including task and subtask management, live activity streams at the task, project, and global levels, cloud storage connectivity, and more!
Many task limitations apply since this is the free tier.
On the other hand, Wrike’s freeware provides a fair number of integrations and task management options, making it ideal for smaller teams or companies looking for high-quality project management software without breaking the bank.
Should you need more, Wrike has a simple premium tier system. To get better service, upgrade to the Professional, Business, or Enterprise tier.
According to many customers, Wrike is one of the most user-friendly tools in its industry.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 2 GB of unlimited storage
- The software is very user-friendly.
- Internal and external collaboration tools
- Tiers are designed to be highly scalable.
Cons
- Some of the best features are only available as add-ons, which must be bought individually.
- There are just a few third-party integrations available.
9. Podio — Best Versatile
Podio was designed for professionals who are always juggling multiple projects and coming up with new ideas.
It is used by more than 400,000 businesses and teams worldwide, including Sony, Volvo, and the NFL.
With Podio, you can create tasks and personalize them depending on your workflow, taking into account timelines and responsibilities.
You can also use the built-in instant chat feature to discuss ideas and monitor how others are doing with allocated tasks.
There’s also a useful tool for getting quick feedback without having to send many emails.
There are integrations with third-party services like Dropbox and Google Drive, allowing you to quickly and effortlessly share files.
Podio is also available in French, Danish, German, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish. A free tier with a maximum of five users is available on the web.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extremely versatile and flexible
- Great market for pre-made apps
- Streamlines multiple business aspects into a single place.
- User friendly
Cons
- The free account has certain limits.
- Lacks a few specialized workplace tools
10. Smartsheet — Best For Automations
Smartsheet caters mostly to larger enterprises—some of its top clients include Cisco, McGraw Hill, and Whirlpool—but its pricing makes it affordable to smaller businesses as well.
Clients praise Smartsheet as intuitive, reliable, and simple to use.
The service provides a 30-day trial for each of its three subscription options, although it does not include freeware.
Customers seem to be satisfied with Smartsheet’s customer service in general.
There is some debate about whether Smartsheet is as user-friendly as other project management applications.
However, the consensus is that if you follow the instructions and communicate your problems to customer support representatives, you should be up and running in no time.
Smartsheet is best suited for more established, well-known brands and teams already well-versed in complex project management setups.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comes with a 30-day free trial
- For larger businesses, this is a good value for money.
- To test features, no credit card information is required.
Cons
- There aren’t as many third-party integrations as some of the other options.
- The basic tier is quite limited.
Comparison
| Company | Best For | Price | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asana | Overall | $10.99/month | Unlimited storage space | 4.5/5 |
| Trello | Cross-Platform Features | $5/month | Freeboard customization options | 4/5 |
| Basecamp | Project Collaboration Features | $11/month | 500 GB storage space | 4.3/5 |
| Monday.Com | Simplicity | $8/month | Visualization tools for projects | 4.2/5 |
| Zoho Projects | Small Teams | N/A | Options for document storage | 3.5/5 |
Conclusion
This is just a brief list of project management software available. It might take some trial and error to figure out which project management software is best for your company’s requirements.
What worked for you in the past may no longer meet your company’s demands as it grows.
FAQs
What are project management tools?
Using project management software is an effective way to deliver projects on time and coordinate work.
It’s how successful projects keep track of progress and manage time.
Why do you need project management software?
One of the most important features of digital project management software is that it allows you to be productive and organized from the beginning to the completion of a project.
It can also help you understand how you can improve how you carry out a project in the future.
What are the most common types of project management software?
Individual, collaborative, and integrated tools are the three most common types of project management software.
Individual tools are used by specific team members, as the names imply. Collaborative tools allow multiple individuals to work on the same project simultaneously, whereas integrated tools combine both features.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.
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